[2] Symptoms may include vaginal bleeding, lower abdominal pain, and dangerously low blood pressure.

[2] Complications for the baby can include fetal distress, low birthweight, preterm delivery, and stillbirth.

[1] A placental abruption caused by arterial bleeding at the center of the placenta leads to sudden development of severe symptoms and life-threatening conditions including fetal heart rate abnormalities, severe maternal hemorrhage, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

[9] Risk factors for placental abruption include disease, trauma, history, anatomy, and exposure to substances.

Substances that increase risk of placental abruption include cocaine and tobacco when consumed during pregnancy, especially the third trimester.

When anatomical risk factors are present, the placenta does not attach in a place that provides adequate support, and it may not develop appropriately or be separated as it grows.

[9] In most cases, placental disease and abnormalities of the spiral arteries develop throughout the pregnancy and lead to necrosis, inflammation, vascular problems, and ultimately, abruption.

When the placenta is separated, it is unable to exchange waste, nutrients, and oxygen, a necessary function for the fetus's survival.

[9] Placental abruption is suspected when a pregnant mother has sudden localized abdominal pain with or without bleeding.

[8] The diagnosis is one of exclusion, meaning other possible sources of vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain have to be ruled out in order to diagnose placental abruption.

Women who have high blood pressure or who have had a previous placental abruption and want to conceive must be closely supervised by a doctor.

[17] The risk of placental abruption can be reduced by maintaining a good diet including taking folate, regular sleep patterns and correction of pregnancy-induced hypertension.

[9] Without any form of medical intervention, as often happens in many parts of the world, placental abruption has a high maternal mortality rate.